Zulu cures used to treat Aids-related problems

British scientists have discovered that ancient Zulu cures using rare plants can successfully treat Aids-related illnesses and serious skin infections.

Botanists believe that Zulu sangoma, or traditional healers, have created highly effective treatments for respiratory illnesses and infections linked to Aids, as well as skin complaints, arthritis and burns.

Many of these herbal medicines, which include cures for coughs and colds, are based on plants unique to southern Africa, while others use shrubs such as pennywort, known to keen British gardeners.

Now a team of British experts, including botanists from Kew Gardens in London, are investigating ways to create safe versions of these medicines, and help traditional healers in South Africa to exploit their discoveries commercially.

Eventually, they predict, these Zulu medicines could be exported to Britain - tapping into a booming market for herbal remedies. The project, run by a British organisation called GardenAfrica, has won a 250,000 ($644,000) grant from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Ministers are expected to confirm soon that they will fund GardenAfrica's programmes for several more years.

The department is allocating 10.5 million for dozens of projects, including an initiative to measure climate change impacts on biodiversity using ants, protecting coral reefs in the Galapagos, and stopping elephants from raiding crops in Asia.

The GardenAfrica cash will be used to set up a new research centre called the Africulture Centre to build up scientific and botanical expertise in local, traditional medicines. Based on a 10ha site, it will collect and cultivate the most significant and rarest plants.

- INDEPENDENT